The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-22
Fall Care of Bees.

Farmers Advocate
The care of bees in the fall goes very far to-
wards successful wintering One would sup
pose from the numerous articles that written
the subject of fall management and winter.
ing that about all bad been said, and that an
observalt bee keeper would understand
rectly how to winter his bees that he would not
have any loss; but on the con trary, many lose
a number of colonies nearly every year. Why
this loss should occur is very hard to
understand, as many who lose heavily
are very particular in manipulation. The
critical season for bees is the late winter and
early spring. to prepare them for this season
is the aim of all intelligent bee-keepers. That
they may be in good condition to successfully
tide this of chan gea6le weather, it is
well, as early as the beginning of September to
arrange the frames of the brood chamber in the
following manner Take two more frames of
honey from each end Of the hives providing
there Is no brood In them and spread the frames
apart so that there is twice much space e.
tween them as usual They will then, during
the fall honey fiow build out the combs so thick
we'll ripened honey Should the fall crop OF
honey fail, it would be we'll to feed sufficient su-
gar syrup made after this formula Take four
pounds OF graduated sugar and add 1t to one
quart of boiling water, and boil till the Sugar Is
thoroughly dissolved. This syrup then be
fed to them 10 any of the bee feeders that are
now in the market, or simple way is to fill a
bread pan with the syrup and lay cloth in the
syrup but extending over the sides and ends or
the pan. They can take the syrup from this
feeder Is we'll as they could from one costing
great deal more.
At this season the hives are, for some reason
or another. very often found Co be queenless,
caused, it is expected, by overwork on the part
of the queen. Should any be found in that con-
dtion, 1t would be we'll to introduce improved
stock without delay This can be done safely in
the following manner: Take piece of wire cloth
about four inches square and roll it around
piece of broom-stick as to make tube; one
edge of the cloth should be uuraveled two
three wires, aud the wires used
to fasten the edge OF the
cloth and thus complete the tube. Close
end by pinching it and your cage is then
ready. When you queen arrives by mail. open
the cage before a closed window and hold the
tube cage that the queen only will run out OF
the shipping cage into it. As she is in
close it with piece of comb honey ana take it TO
the hive in which you are going to introduce her.
Move some of the frames and place the cage be-
tween them with one end pressed against some
sealed honey, SO that, should the bees not feed
her. she would have soma honey close at hand.
In two or three days open one end of the cage, if
the bees are walking quietly around it; but if
they are very anxious to get inside the cage. and
are crowding and hugging it. close the hive for
another day, or until they are quiet. As soon as
you open the cage close the hive and leave it for
a week. When you are satisfied that your hive
contains a good queen, and from twenty-fiv to
thirty pounds of GOOD, we'll capped honey on not
more than five or six frames, you can let them
severely alone till the month of October, when
they can be packed and put away for winter.